Acupuncture may reduce depression symptoms during pregnancy, according to a new study by researchers at Stanford University Medical School.

The study, published in the March issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology, found that women who received acupuncture to treat their depression had significantly reduced symptoms of depression.

The study included 150 women whose pregnancies were between 12 and 30 weeks and were clinically depressed. The women were divided into three groups, one group received acupuncture to treat the depression, on group received acupuncture in which needles were inserted at points not known to alleviate depression to serve as a control group, and the third group received massages.

The participants received their assigned therapy for eight weeks and were assessed for depression at four and eight weeks of therapy.

The results showed that 63 percent of women who were treated with depression-specific acupuncture responded to treatment, compared to 44 percent of participants in the other two groups.

According to the study, up to 14 percent of pregnant women may experience a major depressive disorder. If left untreated, depressions can pose risks for both the mother and baby.

Acupuncture offers a drug-free alternative treatment for pregnant women.

The study was funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.